Alaves boss praises Pellistri’s speed ahead of United loanee’s debut

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Facundo Pellistri is settling in at Alaves after a loan move from Manchester United after the deadline.

After just three months in Manchester after his loan move from Penarol in Uruguay, Pellistri switched countries in order to get regular game time, having been stuck in United’s under-23 squad.

Pellistri’s debut for Alaves could come as soon as tonight. Alaves take on Real Valladolid in a crunch clash between 16th and 18th in the La Liga table with the two teams just one point apart.

Pellistri passed a series of health tests in midweek and was able to train with the Alaves first team on Wednesday for the first time.

Pellistri could feature for Alaves right away. New boss Abelardo Fernandez believes the Uruguayan can offer them a useful option in attack.

Fernandez told Mundo Deportivo of Pellistri and fellow new boy Inigo Cordoba: “They provide competition, which I think we needed [with] players on the wing. Furthermore, Facundo has speed and freshness.”

This loan is a big chance for Pellistri. An appearance tonight would be his first ever competitive game in European football.

Pellistri played seven times for United’s under-23 side, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

There was not a spot in United’s first team available for him at present, not with the team doing so well in the Premier League, even though there is a lack of options on the wing, Solskjaer was not prepared to gamble on Pellistri or rush him before he is ready.

This loan move is all about preparing him and ensuring he is ‘ready’ for a chance next season. It might take a year beyond that too even, but United will have patience, that’s why the youngster is on a long-term contract until 2026.

Pellistri has to put all of that aside for the moment and focus now purely on his chance at Alaves and try and make a good early impression, possibly starting tonight.

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